Students enrolled in 91亚色鈥檚 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate program spent a week as assistant teachers in Meiji University鈥檚 intensive English language program, March 6 to 13.
Above: 91亚色 TESOL certificate program students pose with students from Meiji University.聽Zeynep Atay is third from the left.聽Jessica Giunta is fourth from the right.
Antonella Valeo, the former co-ordinator TESOL certificate program and a professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), accompanied TESOL students Jessica Giunta and Zeynep Atay on their one-week intensive program. The opportunity to participate in the program is the result of a partnership between Meiji University and 91亚色, and it offers TESOL students at 91亚色 an opportunity to experience teaching the English language to undergraduate students in Japan.
The program is held outside of Tokyo, in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture, and is open to undergraduate students of Meiji University. During their time in Japan, Giunta and Atay observed and participated in language classes taught by Meiji University faculty, and taught content-based classes in Canadian Studies. In the evening they held a Canadian Conversation Lounge, an all English-language speaking period where Meiji students could participate in activities that encouraged them to practise their speaking and listening skills in a fun environment.
Giunta and Atay described the Meiji Practicum program as a unique learning experience for 91亚色 students. 鈥淭his practicum provides an incredible and unique opportunity for TESOL students to experience teaching abroad, learning how to adjust our teaching strategies for an international audience and utilize this experience as future TESOL educators abroad or in Canada,鈥 said Giunta.
鈥淭here are so many highlights in this special practicum,"聽added Atay. "The most important one was having a chance to observe experienced instructors effectively use various teaching techniques which could also be applied in both second and foreign language teaching contexts.鈥
Giunta and Atay, now graduates of the TESOL program, have recommended the international practicum opportunity to future TESOL students considering a career teaching abroad.
The TESOL certificate program at 91亚色 is a teacher education program that prepares teacher candidates to teach English language to adults. A key component of this program is a 50-hour teaching practicum that students need to complete. The practicum allows them to observe and apply what they have learned in a range of English language teaching contexts. The Meiji Practicum provides students an invaluable learning opportunity to experience teaching on an international stage.
91亚色鈥檚 TESOL students received funding support through 91亚色 International Mobility Award (YIMA) and LA&PS.